Steam-generator.



J. E. BELL.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.4.1911.

1,1 84,302. Patented May 23, 1916.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR J. E. BELL.

STEAM GENERATOR.

vAPPLICATION FILED AUG.4, I911. 7 1,184,302. Patent-ed May 23,1916.

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J. E. BELL.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4.19H.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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II II In M n in u INVENTOR WITNESSES WQMWO K J. E. BELL.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION man A'ue.4, 19H.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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J. E. BELL.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUGA, 19!].

1,1 84,302. Patented May 23, 1916.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR U m mm, X PQWQZWPWU,

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I I I 1 z //1 I! //I//////// I! l a Patented May 23, 1916.

J. E. BELL.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.4, 1911.

0 QU Q 0 5 o. a. (am, ammeumu WITNESSES J. E. BELL.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION H v LED AUG.4| 1-91].

Patented May 23, 1916.

ISHEETS-SHEET 7.

INVENTOR WITNESSES 35 furnace lining,-which is much more rapidly JOHN E. BELL, OF YORK, N. Y.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

To all whom it may concern i Be it known that I, JOHN E. BELL, a resident of New York,in the county of New York and State of New York, have 1n- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 4, 1911. Serial No. 642,360.

vented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Generators, of which the following is a full,'clear, and exact descriptiomreference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in

which Figure 1 is a longitudinal yertlcal seei tionshowing a preferred form of my boiler;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line II"II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertlcal transverse section through the furnacechamber looking toward the boiler tubes at one side;'

. Fig. 4 is a side elevation; Fig. is a view 1 similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form;

6 is a detail enlarged crosssection 20 showing the baffle arrangement of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing another modified form; and Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of a regenerator brick which I prefer to employ. I

therefor. l

Heretofore, in the working of boilers, the

fuel has been burned on a grate and 'the major portion of the heating surface has absorbed sensible heat from the gases of combustion, and only a small portion of I 'the heating surface; has been exposed to the heat radiated directly from the burning fuel, or the highly heated brickwork of the absorbable. .The temperature of 'thewaste ,gases leaving the boiler has been from twenty to one hundred. and fifty degrees more than the temperature' of the steam, under the best conditions, and a great .-amount of. heat is lost on this account.

-' In my. invention 1' preferably expose the major portion of theheating surface of the steam generator'to the radiant heat of the fuel, and abstract the sensible heat of the gases of combustion by the use of regener ators or recuperators, WhICll return this heat to the air entering the furnace, increasing the temperature of combustion. The

proportion of the heat of combustion appearing as radiant heat rapidly increases with the .ltemperature andispractically all absorbed; directly by .theheating surface.

Thearea of the heating surface can on this.

Patented May 23, 1918.

whole or in part, the following important features: first, the arranging of the boilerheatlngsurface' so that the major portion thereof is exposed to the radiant heat of the burning fuel; second, the use of granulated or pulverized fuel which is burned in the form of a curtain or sheet. ,Third, the suspending of the burning granulated or pulverized fuel in air which is preheated by means of the furnace. gases in a regenerator or a recuperator; fourth, the dropping of V the granulated or pulverized fuel by gravity through a furnace chamber or chambers in the form of a curtain; fifth, the inclosing by the regenerator of at least a part of the H boiler; sixth, the use of a divided furnace My invention is designed to provide anentirely new type of boiler and furnace having up and down passes, so that the ash of the pulverized or granulated fuel burned in'suspension will drop at the turn in the furnace. I

The burning of the fuel while in suspension isan important feature. This does away with the difliculty of grates which,- even if water-cooled, would present enor-' mous difiiculties on account of the preheating of the air and the high temperature obtained. It also enables the boiler to absorb directly a large-amount of the radiant heat .of the coal burnt in the curtain or sheet through the length of the furnace making a large radiating surface directly in front of the boiler-heating surface. Such combustible gases, distilled from the fuel, as are not consumed in the'furnace will'be burned in y the passages leading to the regenerator or in the regenerator itself, and since the temperature of the gases entering the re generator is high the combustion will be complete. The drop of the anulated or pulverized fuel by gravity a ords a sinipleand eflicient means of burning the particles in suspension in a sheet or curtain form. The use of a down and up pass provides for drop ping of the ash after the burning of the descending sheet or-curtain offlame, and the partial inclosing of the boiler by the re generator system will aid in preventing losses by radiation and also aflorda morecompact and eflicient system.

I claim as advantages for my invention comparedwith boilers and furnaces as now made: (1), an increase :ineconomy; (2), a

steam and water drums 3; and in order to" provide cooler down-coming tubes, I preferably inclose certain of the tubes in fire brick, shown at 4, to make these tubes cooler than the others in this back'row. This firebrick shields these tubes both from radiant heat andfrom the hot gases. The tubes of the two rows are preferably staggered so that each row will receive radiant heat from the burning curtain of fuel in front. Water c'ir culat-ing tubes 3 may be-employed between the water spaces of the steam and water drums, and the mud drums may also be connected, if desired.

The front and rear of the boiler setting is formed by fire'brick walls Sand 6, which also inclose regenerators at the sides of the boiler. The boiler furnace chamber is divided by the fire brick partition 7, depending from the roof between the steam andwater drums, and terminating above the ash pit 8. This partition may be supported on water boxes 9, having pipes 10 leading from their ends to the mud drums. Upwardly extending tubes may also be provided for these water boxes, as shown at 11. In this form, the powdered or granulated fuel is fed in through two long thin passa eways 12, which extend the length of the urnace from front to rear and connect to a common chamber 13 provided with a swinging gate parts preferably extend from front to rear valve 14 by which the coal may be shunted to either side and hence fed into either of the channels 12. The coal is fed into this chamber 13 through chute 15, from hopper 15, controlled by rotary gate feed 16. These of the boiler.

Back of the two rows oftubes are the c valve 25.

' 20, which also connects with the lower endof the other regenerator pass containing two flues 21 filled with tile or castings. At the top of the flues 21 is a chamber 22 having a valved opening 23 to the outer air, and an opening 24 to the stack controlled by upper'part of the'furnace in front of the boiler tubes, and the coal burns in a descending curtain or sheet in front of the tubes, which, being exposed to the radiations from this burning fuel, rapidly absorbs heat. On reaching the lower end of the furnace partition? the ash drops into the pit and the hot flame and gases sweep up on the left-hand side of the partition and subject the tubes therein to radiant heat and also partially to heat by convection. On.

reaching the top of the left-hand wall 17,

the gases then flow downwardly and upwardly through the left-hand regenerator, heating the tile therein and passing to the stack. On reversal of the valves, the coal feed is also reversed, so that the dropping sheet of burning coal will be fed down through the left-hand half of the boiler furnace, the hot air entering the left-hand re- 11 generator and joining the sheet, and the hot product passing out through the right-hand regenerator whose valves have been reversed.

The partition wall '7 will absorb heat on the side exposed to the radiations from the 11 burning fuel and will radiate heat to the boiler heating surface on the other side, and thus acts as a secondary radiator. Cooled in this way its temperature is prevented from rising to a dangerous point.

In Fig. 4 I show a cylinder 27 having oppositely extending-piston rods connected to link motion devices 28, by which the valves for each regenerator are simultaneously actuated to close, the air valve of one and open the air valve of the other and atthe same time open the stack valve of the first and close the stack valve of the second, and

[shift the coal feed.

In 5 I show another form of the in 7 The chamber abovethe flues 19 is 8 0 I 'tubes the furnace wall.

vention, where the boiler consists of two banks of tubes 2*, with a large number of rows in each bank. The first and second rows adjacent to the furnace are staggered in position, and support between themja tile bafile 30, which forms with the first row of shown as curved at their ends and expanded into top and bottom drums 31 and 32, the steam drums being connected by water-circulating tubes 33. The mud drums may also be interconnected, if desired. The walls extend from the steam and water drums down to a level short of the mud drums, and the center wall 34 extends upwardly from the ash pit short of the tops of the tubes. The coal feeder is substantially the same as in the first form, and. the dampers may be arranged in the same manner. With the dampers set'as shown, the air will be drawn into the right-hand portion of the regenerator, and leaving the regenerator will pass down through the right-hand bank of tubes to the bottom of the baflle 30. During this time the air heated by the regenerator will transmit a portion of its heat to the boiler tubes. the air then rising on the left-hand of the partition 34. The temperature will be raised during this pass on account of the high temperature of this partition, and the air will then join the fuel fed in the sheet through the left-hand portion of the furnace. Combustion will occur in the sheet form in the. left-hand part of the furnace, and the gases of combustion will pass up through the left-hand=bank of tubes into the regenerator and thence-to the stack. The bank of tubes through which the hot gases pass will generate the bulkof steam.

though the other bank by cooling the heated air and by absorbing radiation from the central furnace wall will also produce steam.

' In this case the major part of the heating surface is not exposed to the radiating heat of the'fuel. This design is preferably used where the fuel is either oil or gas. in which case, of course. the coal feed would be dispensed with. a

' In Fig. 7 I show another modified form wherein the water tubes 2 form the casing of the furnace in the form of a rectangle. The upper ends of alternate tubes are bent outwardly and inwardly to enter the top and bottom headers 35 and 36, thus enabling the two to be brought close together to form I a gas-tight wall. Above the headers. tubes 37 lead to the steam and water drums 38. which extend from the front to the'back of the setting. these tubes 37 having spaces between through which air enters the furnace'from the regenerator-s. The coal feed apparatus 39 in this case is located centrally between the drums. and drops a long-sheet of fuel through the center of the rectangular combustion chamber. The regenerator is The tubes are I divided in two parts, as in the other cases, and placed half on one side and half on the other side of the boiler furnace. Each part is also shown as divided into two passes. In this case I employ fire brick valves 40 which control the fiues ll and 4:1 leading respectively to the top of the furnace and to the ash pit 42 below it. The regenerator valves 43 are shown asarranged to open and close both the stack and air ports, and in the form shown air is entering the left-hand regenerator, this heated air entering through port 41 and joining the descending sheet of fuel. The tubes are exposed to the radiant heat, and the hot gases passing into the ash pit rise through we sage 11* and pass in through the right-hand regenerator and thence to the stack. On reversing the valves, the flow of air and gases will be reversed. The valves 40 are, of course, shifted simultaneously with the top regenerator valves.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show the type of thin regenerator-brick which I prefer to employ, although any type of regenerator-brick or castings may be employed' obtained, and the radiant heat effectually utilized.

As the high temperature attained would seriously affect grates, even if water-cooled, I overcome this difiiculty by doing away v'itli grates-and burning the granulated 0r powdered fuel in suspension. This is also highly efficient for producing radiant heat on account of the long flame in sheet or plate form which gives a high radiation effect. The preheated air is utilized to aid in suspending as well as in burning the sheet of fuel, which is preferably dropped by gravity, although I do not restrict my claims to this method of introducing the fuel as it may be suspended in a lateral or uprising current of air. The regenerator may be built above ground, and advantages obtained by partially inclosing the boiler with the regenerator, since further heat is imparted by radiation to the boiler and the loss from radiation of the boiler setting is reduced.

Many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the boiler, regenerators, the means of burning the fuel, &c., without departing from my invention, since I consider this type of boiler and furnace to be broadly novel. I have used the term boiler as meaning-an arrangei'nent of surface or surfaces for absorbing heat and'transmitting it to a contained or enveloped fluid. The surfaces may be composed of tubes, as 'shown'in the drawings, or of plates or drums, etc. The fluid may be water, as in ordinary boilers, steam as in a superheater,

or any liquid required to be heated or vaporized.

. yond the said heating surface for preheating the air which supports the combustion of the fuel ins-aid chamber, substantially as described. e c

2. A water tube boiler having a combustion chamber inclosing at least a portion of the heating surface of the water tubes, means for supplying granulated or pulverized fuel tosaid chamber and burning it in suspension therein, whereby said heatingsurface is directly exposed to the radiant heat of the burning fuel, and a regenerator or recuperator beyond the said heating surface for abstracting a portion of the sensible together withregenerator means arranged to preheat air by the products of combustion the fuel; substanheat 'of the. gasesof combustion and returning the same to the air supply for saidcombustion chamber, substantially as described.

3. Aboiler having water heatingsurfaces,

a vertically extending combustion'chamber which incloses at least a portionof the heat- .ing surfaces'means for feeding granulated "or pulverized fuel vertically through said, chamber and burning it therein while falling, whereby said heating surfaces are di? rectly exposed to the radiant heat of com bustion of the burning fuel, together with means for utilizing the heat of the outgoing gases beyond the heating surface ofthe generator for preh ating the air .which supports combustion ir'i'sa'id chamber; substantially as described. A 41: -A boiler having water heating surfaces, a vertically extending combustion chamber,

a portion of the heating surfaces being ex-- posed in the combustion chamber, means for I feeding a vertical sheet ofpowdered or granulated ful in the form of a curtain or sheet along the exposed heating surfaces in said chamber and burning it therein while in suspension wherebysaid exposed portions 'of the heating surfaces are directly exposed to the radiant heat of the burning fuel, together with means for utilizing theheat of the outgoing gases from the, combustion chamber beyond the heating surface of the generator for preheating the air which supports the combustion in the combustion chamber substantially as described.

the burning fuel, and means for utilizing the heat of the outgoing gases from. the combustion chamber beyond, the heating surfaces ofothe generator for preheating the air which supports the combustion in said chamber; substantially as described.

6. A boiler having water heating surfaces, a vertically extending combustion chamber which incloses at least a portion of said heating surfaces, means for feeding granulated or pulverized fuel vertically through said chamber and burning it therein while in suspension whereby said heating surfaces are directly exposed to the radiant heat of the burning fuel," and regenerators arranged to preheat air by the products of combustion and supply. the same to the fuel; substantially as described.

T. A boiler having water heating surfaces,

and means for feedinggranulated or pulverized fuel to cause it to fall by gravitj f along said surfaces, and for causing the fuel to burnwhile passing along said v surfaces,

and supply the same to tially as described. y Y 8. A boiler having water heating surfa'ces, a vertically extending combustion chamber which incloses'at least a portionof the heating surfaces, means for feeding pulverized or granulated fuel to cause it to fallby gravity along said surfaces, a r egenerator at least partially inclosing the combustion chamber for preheating air, and means for supplying said preheated air to the combustion chamber; substantially as described. 9, A- boiler having water heating surfaces, a vertically extending, combustion chamber which incloses at least a portion of the heat- .ing surfaces, a reverse pass in said combus-.

tion chamber arrangedto drop the ash, and. means for feeding pulverized or granulated fuel to cause it tofall by gravity along a portion of said heating surfaces and for causing 'the fuel to burn while passing along said surfaces in combination with regenerators arranged to preheat the air supplied to the combustion chamber by the outgoing products from said chamber; substantially asdescribed.

- 10. A boiler having waterheating surfaces, a vertically extending combustion .chamber which 'incloses-at least a. portion of 139 the heating surfaces, a dividing wall within said combustion chamber forming up and down passes, and'means for feeding granu lated or pulverized fuel verticallythrough one of saidpasses and burning it therein While in suspension whereby saidheating. surfaces in said pass are directly exposed to the radiant heat of the burning fuel; in

10. chamber by the outgoing products from said combination with regenerators arranged to preheat the airsupplied to the combustion chamber, substantially as described.

11. In a steam generator, means for causing pulverized or granulated fuel to fall bygravity through a combustion chamber, Water-heating surfaces forming at least a portion; of the Walls of theisaid chamber, and means for burning the fuel in sheet or curtain form, adjacent to said surfaces,

whereby the latter aredirectly exposed to the radiant heat of'the burning fuel, in combination with regenerators arranged to preheat the air supplied to the combustion chamber by the outgoing products from said chamber, substantially as described.

12. In a steam generator, means for causing pulverized or granulated fuel to fall by gravity through a combustion chamber,

Water-heating surfaces forming at least a heating the air supplied to said combustion chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

' JOHN E. BELL. Witnesses: 1

i L. T; BELL,

L. R. BEL/L. 

